Citizen participation is rooted within Zimbabwe„s indigenous and traditional way of life known as matare. Matare are platforms where members of the community meet to discuss and make informed decisions on issues of mutual interest. However, local authorities which are the primary nerve centres for rural development are failing to take advantage of these platforms. This article assesses citizen participation in the adoption of the budget of the Council of Chimanimani Rural District. The article reveals that the majority of citizens were not exposed to the budget formulation process and the Council had no clear strategy for encouraging citizen participation. It is recommended that local authorities consider devising strategies for effective participation of residents in council affairs.